School Support Teams

School counselors focus on the academic and social-emotional development of students in the context of college and career readiness. They are the primary point of contact for families who are unsure of what supports their child needs or how to access them.

One school counselor serves each of our elementary schools. Secondary students are assigned to their school counselors. South Orangetown Middle School has three school counselors and TZHS has five school counselors.

View the District’s 2024-25 K-12 Comprehensive School Counseling Plan.

Social workers work with all families the district who need mental health counseling and/or access to community supports for a variety of needs, including food and medical care. One social worker serves all elementary (K-5) students; the other provides social worker services to all secondary (6-12) students.

School prevention counselors, who are also credentialed social workers, serve the entire student body of their assigned building and focus on mental health and substance use prevention and collaborate with school counselors, social workers and health teachers on issues such as chronic absenteeism. School prevention counselors serve in our secondary buildings only (7-12).

School psychologists provide direct mental health support and interventions to help students to successfully access their education and consult with building administrators, staff and Counseling Department colleagues to enhance support strategies. They provide mandated counseling for students with disabilities, as well as facilitate groups to support students in various areas related to social skills and executive function. They are the primary chairs for the Committee on Special Education within their buildings. In addition, school psychologists also chair Child Study Teams at their respective schools, which are a forum for administrators, case managers, nurses, Pupil Personnel Services and Response to Intervention staff meet to discuss, plan interventions, and collaborate on supporting students who are struggling with social-emotional, behavioral, home and/or academic issues.